Not your standard prediction post…
Spring Training is the time of year where writers and analysts are flooding you with projections and predictions for the upcoming year.
While looking at predictions is fun – especially if your team is expected to be good – I like to look at it from a different angle.
Rather than simply writing down who will win the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, etc. I went to Bovada.lv and took a look at some of the prop bets offered for season and also looked at whether or not the bets appear to be solid.
Highest Save Total By A Pitcher Over/Under 48.5
Last season Craig Kimbrel saved 47 games for Atlanta while Fernando Rodney saved 48 games for the Mariners. While no player saved more than 48.5 games last season, four have reached the mark over the past four seasons.
Highest Strikeout Total By A Pitcher O/U 255.5
David Price led the league with 271 strikeouts last season and Corey Kluber struck out 269. Three players have reached 256 or more strikeouts over the past two seasons, but after that you have to go back to 2011.
Highest Home Run Total By A Batter O/U 42.5
No one hit 43 or more home runs last season, but prior to that two players reached the mark in 2013, three did in 2012, one did in 2011, one in 2010 and four in 2009.
Highest RBI Total By A Batter O/U 127.5
Adrian Gonzalez led the league last season with 166 RBI, but in 2013 two players hit more than 128 RBI. Over the past five seasons, four players have hit 128 or more RBI.
Highest Hit Total By A Batter O/U 210.5
Jose Altuve led the league with 225 hits last season, but is the only player with more than 211 hits in any of the past five seasons.
Highest Stolen Base Total By A Player O/U 62.5
Dee Gordon swiped 64 bags last season, but was the first player to steal 60 or more bases since Michael Bourn stole 61 bases in 2011.
Highest Batting Average By A Batter O/U .340
Jose Altuve hit .341 in 2014 (just typing these is a reminder of how good he was last season, wow) and Miguel Cabrera hit .348 in 2013. The American League has had at least one player hit .340 or above in five of the last six seasons.
Highest Win Total By A Pitcher O/U 20.5
Winning 21 games is no easy task. However, over the past five years, seven pitchers have done it.
Will Any Pitcher Pitch A Perfect Game Yes (+200) No (-300)
A perfect game is one of the most enjoyable things to watch in baseball. Unfortunately, baseball fans haven’t been able to witness one since 2012. Will that change this year?
How Many No-Hitters Will There Be In Regular Season? O/U 4.5
While not quite as special as the perfect game, the no-hitter is still a great feat. There were five no-hitters in 2014, three in 2013 and an astonishing seven in 2012 (including perfect games.) This bet may hinge on the number of starts Tim Lincecum has against the Padres.